STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 58th Session
High Level Segment.
Statement delivered by State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norway
Check against delivery
25 February 2025
President,
Over the past year, the world has again witnessed an unacceptable number of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. We have seen an increased willingness to disregard the important lessons of the past and ignore our responsibility to stand up for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The UN charter, international humanitarian law and human rights must be respected and protected. Violations are unacceptable. If states can safely violate international law, its credibility collapses. And obviously it will be harder to uphold international law in the future.
In Ukraine, Russia has shown a blatant disregard for the UN charter, international humanitarian law and human rights. Yesterday, in the UN headquarters in New York, the vast majority of UN member states gathered around defending international law, the UN charter and a sustainable peace for Ukraine. Ukraine’s fight for freedom is our fight for freedom and Russian aggression continues, and we need to remind ourselves that this is a Russian war of choice. Russia could end this war tomorrow. Norway will not relent in our support to Ukraine.
The Human Rights Council has a crucial role to play in upholding international law, including through mandating independent investigations and monitoring of human rights situations, and the ability of this Council to act is all the more important.
Those responsible for violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law must be held accountable.
In Palestine, Ukraine, the Sudan and in other conflicts and crises, human rights defenders continue to be essential in promoting and protecting all human rights for everyone. They must not be silenced. They must in fact be protected, included, and supported.
Mr. President,
Norway will continue to stand up for human rights and fundamental freedoms for everyone. Economic, social, and cultural as well as civil and political rights.
For everyone. Everywhere.
We are currently witnessing a regression of women and girls’ human rights and a backlash against feminist movements. Hard-won progress is slowly eroding.
The status of women, along with the rights of LGBT+ persons, individuals with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and ethnic and religious minorities, serves as a crucial barometer for the health of any society. Denying these groups their rights weaken the very foundation of our societies and undermines the principles of equality, non-discrimination, and accountability.
Norway will remain a strong supporter of the rights of women and girls. Including their right to decide over their own bodies. We are committed to continue our fight for and support to sexual and reproductive rights and health both financially and politically. If women do not enjoy sexual and reproductive health and rights, their political and economic participation is also affected, and societies suffer.
Mr. President,
Protecting human rights online as well as offline is an important priority of Norway’s national and foreign policy.
Although digital communication tools and social media have made it possible for many to access and share information and opinions directly with others, we also see more hate speech and abuse that threaten the right to freedom of expression and personal privacy.
The scale of hate speech and disinformation online increases polarization in society and undermines trust in democratic institutions and values. It targets human rights defenders, and seeks to limit, silence or discredit them.
Internationally, Norway supports efforts to combat digital violence and harassment, spreading of disinformation and hate speech through several means. We believe that a multistakeholder approach is necessary to succeed in this work.
Addressing hate speech does not mean limiting freedom of expression. It means keeping hate speech from escalating into something more dangerous.
Mr. President,
Norway is proud to present, during this session, a resolution on the protection of human rights defenders in the digital sphere.
It will focus on new and emerging technologies and human rights defenders. We see this as a relevant and timely issue, including in the lead-up to the Internet Governance Forum that Norway will host in June this year.
We invite all states and civil society to engage in constructive and transparent negotiations and hope that the resolution will enjoy the Council’s consensual support.
Finally, we look forward to working with all of you to uphold our shared commitment to the core values of the UN Human Rights Council.
Thank you.